#AtoZ 1968 – “D” is for the Detroit Tigers

“You’re going to get a concept that maybe this really is one world and why the hell can’t we learn to live together like decent people.” ~ Astronaut Frank Borman, on seeing the entire earth from outer space as he and the crew of the Apollo 8 returned from orbiting the moon.

The Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three. It was the Tigers’ first championship since 1945.

The Tigers came back from a 3–1 deficit to win three in a row, largely on the arm of MVP Mickey Lolich. In his third appearance in the Series, Lolich had to pitch after only two days’ rest in the deciding Game 7, because regular-season 31-game winner Denny McLain was moved up to Game 6 – also on two days’ rest. In Game 5, the Tigers’ hopes for the title would have been very much in jeopardy had Bill Freehan not tagged out Lou Brock in a home plate collision, on a perfect throw from left fielder Willie Horton, when Brock elected not to slide and went in standing up.

BONUS MUSIC!

Here’s the #80 song on Billboard’s Year-End Top 100 singles of 1968

“Elenore” by The Turtles

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Published by Martha Reynolds

I am the bestselling author of nine novels, including the Swiss Chocolate trilogy and VILLA DEL SOL, which won the 2018 Book Award in Literary Fiction from the Independent Publishers of New England.
My newest series includes the books A JINGLE VALLEY WEDDING, APRIL IN GALWAY, and ALL’S WELL IN JINGLE VALLEY.
Find my books online at Amazon, locally at Stillwater Books (Pawtucket, Rhode Island) and Ink Fish Books (Warren, Rhode Island).
View all posts by Martha Reynolds

16 thoughts on “#AtoZ 1968 – “D” is for the Detroit Tigers”

Nice to see that every day in the 60″s wasn’t about death and despair! I do like this song. I have no evidence, but somehow I would think of Eleanor Rigby when I hear this song (Cathy is also onto something). I will have to do some more investigating!

BTW….it seems like “everyone” wanted to take a name like the Beatles, but it was the Beatles who wanted to take a name like Buddy Holly and The Crickets.

I know nothing about baseball history. I enjoyed playing a bit when I was a kid and even watched the organized ballgames for young boys and teens but I never really cared for viewing on TV which is so weird. “Elenore” sounds remotely familiar but I can’t say with complete certainty but I am familiar with The Turtles. I think it was only now that I realized that this is a song about Elenore Rigby. Thanks for sharing and for visiting today’s iPad art sketch of a dolphin! Happy A2Zing to you!

Martha, thanks for the memories! Detroit Tigers, 1968… I am too young to remember that team, that year, but I’m sure my husband does. Meanwhile, what we would REALLY like at our house is to witness the Detroit Lions making the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl!

Kathleen, you and Denise Hammond (who commented below) are the only people I know who live in Michigan! I have recollections of the names in this blog post, because my dad loved baseball and most summer nights were spent listening to games on the radio. Thanks for commenting! ❤